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Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Usually, I am only allowed to talk about boring financial stuff at conference but today is different. A very important day for our profession is coming up on the 20th of October, as it marks the International Day of the Air Traffic Controller. This day is important because it allows us all to take a breath and acknowledge the work we do every day. There are many challenges with our profession at the minute with conflict zones, staff shortages, government shutdowns and technological challenges that all affect the work we do. The fact that the traffic continues and we continue to provide safe skies should be celebrated around the world.
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This time of year, is also a busy time for our regional executive vice-presidents as the regional meetings take place around the world. The regional meetings are a great time of the year for sharing experiences and solving regional issues that have arisen, and it also is a time to celebrate the International Day of ATC with friends.
Now for just a little bit of financial information to keep you updated. The past few months have been busy as they always are at the end of the financial year. Our amazing office manager Tatiana, our accountant and the auditor have been preparing our financial reports, and they should be finalised in the coming weeks. Finance Committee will have their in-person meeting in early December with the Constitution & Administration Committee to continue with the busy work program and work on the working papers for next year’s conference in Bucharest.
Once again, I wish all of you an amazing International Day of the Air Traffic Controller for 2025 and thank you to all those that will join me on shift on the 20th, as we all know the traffic never stops.
Cheers
Tom McRobert
Executive Vice President Finance
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International Day of the Air Traffic Controller
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The International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA) press statement condemns the unjust arrests of air traffic controllers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Read More HereThe International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA) press statement of support to NATCA and the U.S. Air traffic controllers. Read More Here |
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September Executive Board Meeting
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The IFATCA executive board had their bi-annual in person meeting in Montreal in September. They used the opportunity of the whole board being present to avail of governance training, as well as the usual meeting agenda.
Our sincere thanks to the Canadian Air Traffic Control Association – CATCA and to NavCanada for their support.
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Regional News & Activities
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Americas
The 41st IFATCA Americas Regional Meeting was held from 30 September to 2 October in Oranjestad, Aruba. Hosted by the Asociacion di Controladoran di Trafico Aéreo di Aruba (ACTAA), this meeting brought together representatives from fourteen of the twenty-three member associations on the region for discussions on a broad spectrum of topics of common interest to all.
The opening plenary featured presentations from the Aruban Minister of Tourism, Transport, and Labor Mr Wendrick Cicilia, the CEO of Air Navigation Services Aruba, Mr. Nilknarf Kock, Mr. James Faxio, the interim CEO of the Aruba Airport, and Ronalla Croes, the CEO of the Aruba Tourism Authority. Additionally, welcoming remarks from IFATCA Deputy President Jean-François Lepage, Executive Vice President Americas Andrew LeBovidge, and the chair of the Organizing Committee, Urwin Luminier from ACTAA, set the stage for the main sessions.
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The theme of the meeting was to highlight the interconnectivity of the various member associations, which range from largest within the Federation, to some of the smallest, and to reinforce how each association can support one another and learn from one another. Specific focus was placed on the human being at the heart of our industry by delving into such topics as Critical Incident Stress Management, Peer Support Programs, the IFATCA Mental Health and Wellbeing Task Force, and the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. Similar discussions were held regarding recruitment, training and retention as common issues across the globe, and significant time was spent to promote programs that benefit the air traffic controller such as the successes of the Speak English Program – where native speakers can assist non-native speakers to become more comfortable with English. Many of these topics fall under the remit of the IFATCA EVP Professional, Trish Gilbert, who clearly and articulately laid out her vision on how to elevate all these IFATCA initiatives.
Throughout the meeting, the relationships between IFATCA and other international bodies such as ICAO and ITF were highlighted. Josue Gonzalez, Regional Officer from the ICAO NACC Region was in attendance and provided unique insight during the conversations. Nick Von Schoenberg (President, CATCA and Chair, ITF Air Traffic Services subcommittee) added a depth of knowledge on how the more traditional industrial affairs organization can assist with IFATCA goals.
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At the conclusion of the event, the results of the 2025 Americas regional elections were announced. EVP-Americas LeBovidge will serve another term alongside the five Regional Vice Presidents: John Murdock (United States) as RVP-North America, Dario De Souza (Panama) as RVP-Central America, Vanessa Godoy Urzua (Chile) as RVP-South America, Arnoldlette Pierre (Bahamas) as RVP – North Caribbean, and Ameer Chattergoon (Trinidad and Tobago) as EVP – South Caribbean. Mario Libran (Uruguay), the outgoing RVP-South America was recognized for his significant contributions to the regional over the past several years.
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The regional meeting could not have been a success without the support of the sponsors, including IFATCA Industry Partners L3Harris, American Airlines and Skyverse. All three sponsors were in attendance, and the participants has the opportunity to interact with each through the course of the event.
The region is now looking forward to the 2026 Annual Conference in Bucharest, Romania, and the 2026 Regional Meeting which will be held in Santiago, Chile.
Andrew LeBovidge
IFATCA EVP Americas
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Europe
IFATCA’s European Regional Meeting 2025
It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome the IFATCA European Member Associations and guest speakers to the European regional meeting, taking place October 14 to 16 in the historic and vibrant city of Bologna, Italy.
This ERM will be my last event as EVP Europe. Under the general theme «Look beyond the horizon – The future is NOW!,» issues such as well-being, resilience, technology, safety, performance, high aircraft operations, and collaboration between professional associations, airlines, and institutions will all be discussed.
We would like to thank the IFATCA ERM 2025 Organizing Committee of ANACNA, our Italian Air Traffic Control Association!
The November circular will have an update from this meeting.
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ATCEUC Autumn General Assembly in Utrecht, The Netherlands
At the ATCEUC Autumn General Assembly, IFATCA EVPEUR, Frédéric Deleau reaffirmed the organization’s strong partnership with ATCEUC and their shared mission to defend the professionals ensuring aviation safety and efficiency across Europe where air traffic management is entering a decisive era, driven by rapid digitalization, automation, and artificial intelligence. While supporting innovation, Fred stressed that “technology must serve the air traffic controller, not replace them.” IFATCA’s active role in SESAR 3 and the Joint Cognitive Human–Machine System initiative ensures that controllers’ expertise remains central in shaping future systems. In operational challenges, the urgency of fatigue management as essential for maintaining safety and resilience was raised. As was persistent staffing shortages across Europe. Noting that delayed recruitment and insufficient training pipelines are undermining performance and increasing delays—costing the network billions each year. He stressed that collaboration between unions, professional associations, and institutions is vital: “Reducing capacity for safety reasons is not failure — it is professionalism.” In closing, Fred called for cooperation over blame, urging a collective, forward-looking approach to modernize the system and strengthen mutual trust.
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70th Anniversary Celebration of ICEATCA in Reykjavik
The Icelandic Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (ICEATCA) marked its 70th anniversary with a celebration held in Reykjavik, bringing together generations of Icelandic air traffic controllers, colleagues, and international guests. Representing the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA), Frédéric Deleau, Executive Vice-President Europe, attended the event together with Helena Sjöström Falk, President and CEO of IFATCA.
During the celebration, Fred delivered a short address expressing his personal gratitude as IFATCA’s EVP Europe to ICEATCA and its members for their long-standing contribution to both Icelandic and international aviation safety. He acknowledged the professionalism and dedication of Icelandic controllers and underlined the strategic importance of air traffic control over the North Atlantic, one of the most critical regions of global air traffic operations. The event also served as a moment to reflect on the evolution of the profession and to celebrate the strong bonds between ICEATCA and IFATCA – in good and worse days — a partnership that continues to ensure that air traffic controllers remain at the heart of global aviation safety.
During his visit in Reykjavik, Fred also had the opportunity to tour the Iceland Area Control Centre (ACC). The visit offered valuable insight into the vast extent of the Icelandic-controlled airspace, which covers an immense portion of the North Atlantic region. Fred highlighted the warm hospitality and welcoming spirit of the teams in the operations room, who took the time to share their expertise and demonstrate the daily challenges of maintaining safety and coordination over one of the world’s largest flight information regions.
TOGETHER-FURTHER!
Frédéric Deleau
IFATCA EVP Europe
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Africa & Middle East
The Africa and Middle East (AFM) region continues to foster knowledge exchange and professional development through its dynamic Virtual Presentation Series—a platform that brings together air traffic management (ATM) professionals, thought leaders, and innovators from across the region and beyond.
On 24th July, the series welcomed Katariina Syväys, Chairperson of the Remote Towers Task Force, for the 9th Virtual Presentation Series where she delivered an insightful session on the evolving landscape of Remote Tower operations. Attendees gained a deeper understanding of the benefits, challenges, and future trajectory of this transformative technology, which is increasingly relevant for states seeking cost-effective and scalable air traffic services.
On 9th August, the 10th Virtual Presentation Series featured a highly anticipated session by Oliver Farirayi, the 2nd Executive Vice President for the AFM region and a respected figure in global ATM circles. His presentation, titled “Strengthening Global ATC Capacity: The Intersection of Training, Technology, and AI,” explored how emerging technologies—particularly artificial intelligence—can be harnessed to enhance training methodologies and operational resilience. Farirayi emphasized the importance of continuous learning, cross-border collaboration, and human-centric innovation in building a future-ready ATC workforce.
As the series progresses, it remains a testament to the power of shared knowledge, visionary leadership, and collective ambition in shaping the skies of tomorrow.
On 5th September 5th 2025, the Togolese ATC Association (APCATO) held its 9th Ordinary Congress, themed: ‘Securing the Skies: Strengthening ATC Capacities through Strategic Recruitment, Training, and Retention.’ The congress also featured elections that ushered in new leadership, including the newly elected President of the Association Board – KPATCHA Pana Kipahlou.
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During the 42nd ICAO Assembly, delegates from the Africa and Middle East (AFM) region had the distinct opportunity to visit the IFATCA headquarters in Montréal, reinforcing the region’s commitment to global collaboration in air traffic management. Leading the delegation was Mr. Ahmad Abba, Executive Vice President for the AFM region, who was accompanied by a distinguished group of aviation leaders. Among them were the Director General of Somalia CAA, the Director of ATS from The Gambia, the General Manager of ATM Somalia, the President of FACAA, and the General Manager of Special Projectsfrom Nigeria. The visit also provided a valuable moment for the EVP to connect with Zambian delegates, including the Director of Air Navigation Services at ZACL, further strengthening intra-regional ties and shared aspirations for aviation excellence. This engagement underscored the AFM region’s active presence on the global stage and its dedication to fostering meaningful partnerships within the international aviation community.
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Venue: Peniel Retreat Centre
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With less than 30 days to go, excitement is building across the region for the 36th IFATCA Africa & Middle East Regional Meeting (AFM RM), set to take place from 3–7 November 2025 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Delegates from across the continent and beyond are preparing to converge in one of Africa’s most iconic destinations for a transformative gathering of air traffic controllers. Hosted by the Air traffic Controllers Association of Zimbabwe (ATCAZ) under the leadership of the EVP AFM, this year’s meeting promises rich dialogue and renewed regional collaboration under the theme ‘Securing the Skies: Strengthening ATM Capacity through Strategic Recruitment, Training & Retention’. The anticipation is palpable as final logistics take shape and delegates gear up for a memorable experience that blends professional excellence with cultural celebration.
Ahmad Abba
IFATCA EVP Africa & Middle East
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Asia Pacific Region
Dear Members of the Asia Pacific Region,
In late August, I had the privilege of representing IFATCA at the ICAO APAC Air Traffic Management Sub-Group (ATMSG/13) meeting in Singapore. The discussions reflected our region’s growing emphasis on digitalisation, data-driven decision-making, and enhanced collaboration among States and service providers.
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Several topics stand out as particularly relevant to air traffic controllers:
- Implementation of Project 10/30: This initiative aims to harmonize airspace and ATM performance improvement planning under the Asia/Pacific Seamless ANS Plan. For ATCOs, it will mean closer alignment of operational procedures, capacity management, and contingency coordination across FIR boundaries.
- Trajectory-Based Operations (TBO) Trials: The meeting highlighted ongoing and upcoming TBO trials, which focus on sharing and managing four-dimensional trajectory data between ATC and flight crews. Controllers’ input is critical to ensuring that automation supports situational awareness rather than replacing it.
- Similar Call Sign (SCS) Identification and Mitigation: With traffic recovering strongly, ICAO emphasized the importance of proactive SCS management to avoid confusion and miscommunication. Use of call sign deconfliction tools and enhanced coordination between ATC units and airlines were discussed as practical mitigations.
- Controller–Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC): ICAO continues to encourage the expansion of CPDLC services to reduce frequency congestion and improve clarity in pilot–controller exchanges. For ATCOs, this underlines the importance of maintaining message discipline, monitoring readbacks, and understanding human-machine interface considerations in data link operations.
These developments reaffirm that the human element remains central to safe and efficient ATM, even as technology advances rapidly.
In September, IFATCA’s Executive Board met in Montréal, and I am delighted to share some good news with you: we have confirmed that a Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) Workshop will be held in Malé, Maldives, on 9–10 February 2026. Please save the dates — more details will be announced soon. This workshop will be another valuable opportunity for Asia Pacific controllers to strengthen their understanding of CBTA principles and share practical applications from their units.
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Finally, as you read this Circular, many of you may be packing your bags for Macau. The Macau Organising Committee is ready to welcome you to the 41st IFATCA Asia Pacific Regional Meeting. Every successful meeting is a collective achievement — made possible by the professionalism, curiosity, and friendship each of you brings. I encourage everyone to come with an open mind, share your experiences, and connect with both new and familiar colleagues from across the region.
I look forward to seeing you all in Macau!
Warm regards,
Cheryl Chen
IFATCA EVP Asia Pacific
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IFATCA at NATCA’s Communicating for Safety (CFS) Conference 2025
CFS hosted by NATCA U.S.A. was held from September 15–17. The event brought together global aviation leaders under the powerful theme: “Reaching New Heights: Resilience, Collaboration, and Innovation.” Among the voices at the event was the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA), whose contributions underscored the vital role of frontline expertise in shaping the future of air navigation services.
IFATCA participated in two forward-looking panels focused on the future of air traffic control systems and international collaboration.
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Marc Baumgartner SESAR coordinator of IFATCA
The founding fathers of IFATCA had the idea to create an international day of the Air Traffic Controller. The 20th October has since then become the day to honour the good women and men who are controlling on a H24/365 days aircraft around the globe. Putting our profession in the spotlight is brillant occasion to attract the needed talents to join the future ranks of this fabulous profession. The videos created together with SESAR JU are shedding some light on the questions interested youngsters asked some senior professionals from IFATCA.
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IFATCA’s Speak English Program (SEP): Connecting ATCOs Globally
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IFATCA’s Speak English Program (SEP): Connecting ATCOs Globally
During SEP-tember, IFATCA (International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations) highlighted the success of its Speak English Program (SEP), showcasing videos featuring 30 of its participants.
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The GATCO AGM was held in Brooklands, some 15 Miles South of London Heathrow. The main event, the Gala dinner afterwards in pure British tradition, was held in the nearby Vickers aircraft factory now converted into a large Aviation Museum.
This is where the famous Wellington Bomber was built during WW2, and later the famous civil airliners like the Viscount, the Vanguard and of course the VC10…..
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Skyverse Industry Partner
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From concept to the control room, Skytower has UK CAA approval across multiple locations. It’s already proving its value at busy aerodromes and high-tempo heliports, boosting safety and efficiency, and delivering a system that controllers love to use. The bottom line? Skytower is built for the thousands of towers ATC technology has left behind and is already transforming operations today.
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The 42nd ICAO General Assembly was held in Montréal, Canada, from 23 September to 3 October 2025, with IFATCA once again an enthusiastic and active participant. As the sovereign body of ICAO, the Assembly, convened every three years, reviews and sets policy for ICAO’s work programme across the technical, administrative, executive, legal, and economic fields. Of these, the technical discussions are of greatest relevance to air traffic controllers, offering IFATCA an important opportunity to contribute to the global discourse on issues directly affecting the profession.
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IFATCA Spotlight Podcast
The IFATCA Spotlight Podcast is made by ATCOs for ATCOs and provides insight into different challenges and solutions ATCOS face worldwide.
August- Indonesia
September- Aruba
October- Italy & Macau
Check out all of the latest episodes Here |
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-=>The Controller Archive <=-
We are in the process of moving The Controller magazine’s archive to the IFATCA website. Until now, all issues were available via issuu.com, but a price increase forced us to look for an alternative. We hope to have all 230 issues available in the coming weeks. |
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What will you find if you browse WIKIFATCA?
- An archive of all the working papers since 1968
- Abbreviations and definitions
- The TPM (technical professional manual)
- A whole plethora of wiki categories from aerodrome operations to surveillance
Topics of interest have been classified and grouped in different categories, to facilitate the research of a specific subject, and to narrow down the amount of information relevant to a given topic.
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| How did you like this Circular? |
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Home Association:
Swedish Air Traffic Controllers’ Association, SATCA
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Deputy President
Home Association:
Canadian Air Traffic Controllers Association (CATCA)
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Home Association:
Civil Air Australia
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Executive Vice President Professional
Home Association:
National Air Traffic Controllers Association, NATCA U.S.A.
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Home Association:
VNLV, Netherlands
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Ahmad Abba
Executive Vice President Africa & Middle East Home Association:
Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association
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Andrew LeBovidge
Executive Vice President Americas
Home Association:
National Air Traffic Controllers Association, NATCA U.S.A. |
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Home Association:
Eurocontrol Guild of Air Traffic Services, EGATS |
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Tatiana Iavorskaia
Office Manager and Secretariat
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David Perks
Liaison Officer ICAO ANC
Home Association: The Civil Air Operations Officers’ Association of Australia (CAOOAA)
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Nicola Nì Rìada
Communications Coordinator
Home Association:
Irish Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (IATCA)
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